Craftsman Knows a Key Moment

Brady Anderson singles. Todd Zeile homers. The Baltimore Orioles, the team that set a major-league record for homers, is back at it, leading Game 3 of the American League championship series, 2-0, after two batters with Roberto Alomar, Rafael Palmeiro, Bobby Bonilla, Cal Ripken Jr., B.J. Surhoff and Chris Hoiles putting on their track shoes so they can get to the plate quicker.

What must Jeffrey Maier, that big little Yankee, be thinking as he watches on television back in Old Tappan, N.J?

What must Jimmy Key be thinking as he stands on the mound at Camden Yards, a crowd of 48,635 going crazy, Zeile circling the bases?

“I’m thinking that really wasn’t that bad a pitch,” Key says later. “I’m thinking I have to pick myself up and start over.

“I’ve been pitching a long time and given up a lot of home runs, big home runs. That’s the game we play in this league. You just have to go on.

“I mean, with everyone going nuts as Zeile is circling the bases, it gave me a couple minutes to regroup, to get myself together.

“I can’t worry about Zeile any more, I have to think about Alomar.”

A lot of people are thinking about Alomar. Vilified in the Bronx, greeted as a hero here.

Key gets him to ground out, gets Palmeiro on a fly to center, gets Bonilla on a grounder to short.

Start over? Boy, did he.

The 36-year-old left-hander, a craftsman’s craftsman, retired 23 of the 25 batters he faced after Zeile’s home run, keeping the New York Yankees alive until a breakthrough eighth against Mike Mussina, a four-run assault producing a 5-2 victory and a 2-1 Yankee lead in the best-of-seven series.

“That,” said David Cone of Key’s performance, “was one of the best I’ve seen in a long time.

“He made no mistakes after Zeile’s home run. He was near perfect against one of the toughest lineups in the league, watching Mussina, knowing he had to be that good.”

John Wetteland pitched a flawless ninth after Key worked eight innings on three hits, none after Surhoff’s single with two out in the second. He walked Murray to open the fifth, got Surhoff to ground into a double play and retired the last 11 batters he faced.

“I was able to keep the ball down, move it in and out, hit the corners,” Key said. “My forte.”

Said Cone: “A great blend. Changing speeds. Movement. Location. Never giving in when behind. Throwing with confidence. Throwing any pitch on any count. To me, that’s the ultimate.”

More than the ultimate.

--It was the first win by a Yankee starter in 10 games.

--It gave the bullpen a breather in this string of five consecutive games after Tuesday’s opener was rained out.

--It kept the Yankees in the game against Mussina, paving the way for their fifth come-from-behind victory of the postseason and another psych job on the Orioles, who are 0-7 against their East Division rivals at Camden Yards.

It also secured Key’s spot as the Game 7 starter if this goes that far.

A comfortable feeling, Yankee Manager Joe Torre said, because “you know he knows what a big game is all about. Plus, he’ll be on full rest. That’s important as well.”

Key made seven postseason appearances with the Toronto Blue Jays, going 2-0 with a 1.00 earned-run average in the ’92 World Series.

He built on that performance as a free agent, signing a four-year, $17-million contract with the Yankees and returning the investment with a 35-10 record in ’93 and ‘94, when he was runner-up in Cy Young Award voting to Cone, then with the Kansas City Royals.

In ‘95, however, the Cy bid turned to sighs. Key’s shoulder went bad. In July, he had dreaded rotator cuff surgery. In August, he did commentary on the Little League World Series for ABC. The ESPN commentator was Torre, recently fired as the St. Louis Cardinals manager.

“We talked about his surgery,” Torre recalled. “He was just beginning his rehab and didn’t know what to expect. I had no idea we’d end up together.”

The Yankees lead the league in comeback stories. Dwight Gooden and Darryl Strawberry came back from the gutter and would tell you that. Cone came back from an aneurysm that threatened his career. And Key came back slowly from his surgery, needing an April stint on the disabled list and minor-league rehabilitation and some reassurance during a first-half struggle when he had to rebuild his confidence and form.

In 30 starts, he went 2-6 with a 7.06 ERA over the first 10 and 10-5 with a 3.65 ERA over his last 20.

“A remarkable story,” said Torre.

Said Key: “My arm felt good going into the season but I didn’t know how long it would hold up, how many innings I’d be able to pitch. It’s been a blessing. I mean, I relish it every time I’m able to go out there. I’m dealing with doctor time. I know any time could be my last.”

With that tenuous scenario, Key isn’t looking ahead, isn’t thinking about another possible free-agent foray as his contract expires.

“I came to the Yankees to have the opportunity to pitch again in the postseason and I’m finally doing it in my fourth year,” he said.

“That’s all I’m thinking about right now. I went through a lot last year. There’s no question it feels good to do what I did tonight.”

What he did was start over.

No problem, considering how he had to start over with a repaired shoulder in April.